‘It’s too late for that,’ Bowman said. ‘Those Albanian bastards got away with it. That’s in your bloody file, isn’t it?’

‘Aye, lad, I know. But if you agree to work with us, you’ll be waging war against the criminal elite. The David Langs of the world. The same type of scum responsible for murdering your family. This is a chance to make them pay.’

Bowman stayed silent as he weighed up Mallet’s offer. But he already knew his answer. He’d tried repeatedly to push past the grief, the raw anguish. But somehow, he had never been able to move past it. The one thing he craved – vengeance – was always out of his reach. The pills had dampened the pain, but they had never given him closure. Now he had the opportunity he’d always been looking for.

A tiny voice at the back of his mind told him that he shouldn’t trust Mallet. This guy might be a Regiment legend, but he’s also a world-class manipulator. But at that moment he didn’t really care.

‘And if I say yes?’ he asked. ‘What then?’

Mallet stared at him. ‘Let me be very clear. This is a temporary posting. There are no guarantees that you’ll be kept on once the mission is over. If you screw up, you’ll be straight back to the Wing.’

‘I’ll take the chance. What about Hereford?’

‘Everything’s been cleared with the CO,’ Mallet said. ‘I’ve spoken with Studley as well. It’s all sorted. You’re with the Wing, so you’ve already been positively vetted. In terms of processing – fake passports and ID, cover story – all of that stuff will be sorted later.’

‘I’ll need accommodation,’ Bowman said. ‘Somewhere to kip, while I’m based up here with you lot.’

‘We’ll sort out something for you,’ Mallet assured him. ‘But it won’t be glamorous. A bedsit in Acton, that’s the best we can offer.’

‘I grew up in worse,’ Bowman said, recalling the dilapidated terrace from his childhood. ‘Where’s your base of operations?’

‘I’ll explain that in a bit,’ Mallet replied. ‘But before we go any further, we need to establish a few ground rules.’

Bowman listened as Mallet counted them off on his fingers.

‘One. Our work in the Cell is top secret and absolutely deniable. That means you don’t ever speak about anything you do, see or hear to anyone on the outside. Working for us is like going on a bender in Vegas. What goes on in the Cell, stays in the Cell.’

‘Fine,’ said Bowman. ‘What else?’